ad
the command in the city;[113] he, by arming the young men and posting
guards, rendered things secure and tranquil. The enemy therefore
carrying off plunder from the adjacent places, not venturing to approach
the city, when they were returning by a circuitous route, their caution
being now more relaxed, in proportion as they removed to a greater
distance from the enemy's city, fall in with the consul Lucretius, who
had already explored their motions, drawn up in battle-array and
determined on an engagement. Accordingly having attacked them with
predetermined resolution whilst struck with sudden panic, though
considerably fewer in numbers, they rout and put to flight their
numerous army, and having driven them into the deep valleys, when an
egress from thence was not easy, they surround them. There the Volscian
nation was almost entirely cut off. In some histories I find that
thirteen thousand four hundred and seventy fell in the field and in the
pursuit, that one thousand two hundred and fifty were taken alive, that
twenty-seven military standards were carried off; where, though there
may have been some exaggeration in the number, there certainly was great
slaughter. The victorious consul having obtained immense booty returned
to the same standing camp. Then the consuls join their camps. The
Volscians and AEquans also unite their shattered strength. This was the
third battle on that year; the same good fortune gave them victory; the
enemy being beaten, their camp was also taken.

[Footnote 113: As _praefectus urbis_.]

9. Thus affairs at Rome returned to their former state; and successes
abroad immediately excited commotions in the city. Caius Terentillus
Arsa[114] was tribune of the people in that year: he, considering that
an opportunity was afforded for tribunitian intrigues during the absence
of the consuls, after railing against the arrogance of the patricians
for several days before the people, inveighed chiefly against the
consular authority, as being exorbitant and intolerable in a free state:
"for that, in name only, it was less invidious, in reality almost more
oppressive than that of kings. For that two masters had been adopted
instead of one, with unbounded, unlimited power; who, themselves
unrestrained and unbridled, directed all the terrors of the law, and all
kinds of severity against the commons." Now, in order that this
licentious power might not continue perpetual, he would propose a law,
that five